News & Events

Surgeon Says Mommy Makeovers Help Mothers 'Get Their Bodies Back'

Dr. Paul M. Steinwald, a plastic surgery specialist in Chicago, comments on the popularity, efficacy and safety of the Mommy Makeover, a combination of procedures to rejuvenate the breasts and bodies of recent moms.

Chicago, Illinois (October 2012) – Dr. Paul M. Steinwald of Lake Forest Plastic Surgery (www.lfplasticsurgery.com) often recommends Mommy Makeover plastic surgery for Chicago moms. He says he finds it to be a safe, efficient way to address many of the unwanted changes that often result from pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Mommy Makeovers have become very popular. Dr. Steinwald says they often start with breast augmentation for Chicago mothers who experience sagging or loss of volume in their breasts following pregnancy. Breast augmentation with implants and/or a breast lift (mastopexy) are typically combined with abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck in Chicago. In addition, the Mommy Makeover may include liposuction, to further refine body contouring, as well as facial rejuvenation, using either surgical or non-surgical techniques.

"For appropriate candidates – usually healthy women in their 30s or 40s who have finished having children – these procedures are a safe and effective way to help them 'get their bodies back,' almost overnight," Dr. Steinwald says.

He understands that while most mothers lose a majority of the weight they gained during pregnancy, changes to skin quality in the abdominal and breast areas are almost impossible to reverse without the aid of plastic surgery.

"The issues we see most often involve sagging of the breasts and loss of superior pole fullness, especially after breastfeeding several children, as well as abdominal skin and soft tissue laxity, often accompanied by muscular weakness," he says.

"If the nipple is at or above the lower fold of the breast, often a minor lift or breast implants will be sufficient. Otherwise, more formal lifting incisions are often necessary. Some women still have enough volume remaining, and when native breast tissues are appropriately repositioned and the skin envelope is tightened, the patients are often left with an 'auto-augmented' effect."

An abdominoplasty is almost always part of a Mommy Makeover in Chicago. It is used to create a firmer, flatter tummy and an "inny" bellybutton, often leaving women with better midsections than they had before pregnancy, Dr. Steinwald says. Liposuction can help further define the hips, waist or other parts of the body, and a labiaplasty can help repair stretch injuries to the external genitalia.

"Generally, these procedures leave the body in much better proportion, and can even make moms feel more energetic and able to re-engage in a much more active lifestyle, aside from the obvious boost in confidence and vitality they almost always experience," Dr. Steinwald says.

He explains that most Mommy Makeovers take 4 to 6 hours and require an overnight hospital stay. He usually performs the surgery at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, under the care of board-certified anesthesiologists in a peaceful, beautiful environment.

"While some may take issue with the term 'Mommy Makeover,' there is very little doubt that this is the most direct way for patients to reclaim the confidence, attractiveness and energy that many women felt before they had children," he says. "While most prospective patients are happy to make many sacrifices for their kids, they now realize that their body does not have to be one of them, and this allows them to approach motherhood with a forward-looking, empowered attitude.

"It is such a privilege and joy to be involved in these kinds of transformations with such a resilient and appreciative patient population."

Dr. Steinwald is offering complimentary consultations in Chicago on selected Saturday mornings during the next several months. For details, please visit www.lfplasticsurgery.com.

You deserve to see what a Mommy Makeover at Lake Forest Plastic Surgery can do for you. Simply request a consultation online with Dr. Steinwald and save $50 off the regular consultation fee. Or, call Lake Forest Plastic Surgery at (303) 278-2600 to schedule your visit.